If you are worried about the cost of a turbo etc, make sure you get a decent warranty (if out of Skoda one) - I got one thro' Beth at Allams Skoda, it's good peace of mind.

Just out of interest how much do Skoda charge for the service shedules for a Vrs?

Mine was about £170 for a 20k service

Having had Subarus since A was prefix for the numberplate, I have never been stuck anywhere. As others have said, they tend to be expensive to service and spares are on the high side but very reliable.

My last Legacy was a lovely comfortable car with electronic suspension (2.5GX).

When I went to buy a new one, the prices seemed to be out of this world and discounts hard to find. Skoda offered a suitable engine, 4 wheel drive and similar size to my Legacy - something like £5000 less, but no auto option!.

My wife still has a Forester and until Skoda introduce a 4*4 auto, I don't think she will change.

There's a simple solution everyone has seemingly forgotten: If you like the Octavia but want 4x4 get an Octavia 4x4 simple

There's a simple solution everyone has seemingly forgotten: If you like the Octavia but want 4x4 get an Octavia 4x4 simple

Yep & a cracking car to boot

I had a Mk 1 4x4 that I heavily modded, now have a Scout & also had an Impreza STi I just found the scoob a massive drain on the bank balance & not the most reliable but it was an Import

To be honest, you've missed the boat for this year now- by the time either your Scooby or Skoda arrives, all this white out will have thawed. Then if you get the Scooby, you'll have an expensive to run car that you don't really want.

If you don't want a separate set of winter tyres, the answer's simple. Buy the Skoda, wait til summer to buy a sub-£1000 unfashionable 4x4 (because no one wants them in summer!) and then run that in winter if you feel you have to. It'll be cheaper than the obscene tax/fuel economy of the Scooby over a couple of years of ownership.

Or you could just buy winter wheels/tyres which will be much less hassle. That's what I'm going to do with my Occy.